Trolling device



M. SNIDER TROLLING DEVICE une I2, 1956 Filed Sept. 28, 1953 MurraySnider IN VEN TOR.

9 BY WWW If United States Patent 0 TROLLING DEVICE Murray Snider,Pasadena, Calif.

Application September 28, 1953, Serial No. 382,614

1 Claim. (Cl. 43-43.13)

This invention relates to a variable depth trolling device for use whilefishing from a moving boat or from a stationary position in a current ofwater.

Conventional trolling devices ordinarily comprise a weighted body whichis intended to be sustained at the end of a trolling line at therequired depth. At a given speed, any change in the depth of thetrolling operation necessarily involves a substitution of the trollingdevice by another of a different weight, which adjustment results inundue loss of time as well as the necessity of utilizing a number ofdifferent devices of different weights to suit various operatingconditions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly simpledevice of the character herein described which does not depend uponweight for determining its depth of operation, but rather, which employsa body having a particular configuration which, when subjected tohydro-dynamic forces, may be quickly and easily controlled as to itsoperating depth by simply hauling in or paying out the trolling line.

Other advantages of the invention reside in its extremely simpleconstruction, in its efficient and dependable operation and in itsadaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Figure 3 is an underside plan view of the same; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 4-4 in Figure 2.

With reference now to the views of the drawings the device, as anentity, is denoted by the reference numeral and is characterized by abody 12 having two symmetrical body portions 14 which, in turn, haverearwardly tapered straight lengthwise or side edges 15. These mergeinto broadly rounded leading edges 16. The body portions 14 have planartop surfaces and these slope upwardly and inwardly from the edges 15 andmeet at a dihedral angle edge 17 which defines the axis of sym-2,749,651 Patented June 12, 1956 metry of the body portions 14. Therounded leading edges 16 meet at the stated dihedral angle edge andconsequently define a prow. An upstanding rib 18 is formed integrallywith the body portions 14 and it extends along said dihedral edge abovesaid planar top surfaces and it terminates rearwardly of the roundedleading edges 16 in a plane front face 19. The face 19 is disposedperpendicularly to the stated dihedral edge 17. The body portions 14 arecharacterized in their underneath portions with recess means 20 whichextends from the prow at the dihedral edge to the rear end of the bodyportions and thus defines a concave lower surface portion having itsgreatest concavity directly beneath the rib. The rib has a plane topsurface and also plane vertical sides and these lie parallel to thedihedral edge 17 and extend, as at 21, beyond the rear end of the bodyportions 14. Any appropriate line attaching means, such as that denotedat 22, is employed and appropriately connected to the rib adjacent thefront end 19 thereof.

Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A trolling device comprising a body having two symmetrical body portionshaving rearwardly tapered straight side edges merging into broadlyrounded leading edges, said body portions having planar top surfacessloping upwardly and inwardly from the edges thereof and meeting at adihedral angle edge defining the axis of symmetry of said body portions,said rounded leading edges meeting at said dihedral angle edge anddefining a prow, an upstanding rib integral with said body portions andextending along said dihedral edge above said planar top surfaces andterminating rearwardly of said rounded leading edges in a plane frontface, said plane front face lying perpendicular to said dihedral edge,said body portions having recess means in the lower surfaces thereofextending from the prow at said dihedral edge to the rear end of saidbody portions and defining a concave lower surface portion having itsgreatest concavity beneath said rib, said rib having a plane top surfaceand plane side surfaces lying parallel to said dihedral edge andextending beyond the rear end of said body portions, and line attachingmeans on said rib adjacent the plane front face thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.165,581 Harris Jan. 1, 1952 1,464,041 Holcomb Aug. 7, 1923 1,940,907Edwards Dec. 26, 1933 2,305,865 Goyings Dec. 22, 1942 2,575,609 AldermanNov. 20, 1951 2,645,053 Moritz July 14, 1953

